Across Indonesia, social entrepreneurs are developing innovative solutions to address the country's most pressing challenges, including deforestation, agricultural waste, cultural preservation, and ensuring fair livelihoods. To accelerate their impact, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship and Instellar Impact have launched the third cohort of the Instellar–IKEA Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator (I-SEA), welcoming ten enterprises into a year-long journey of growth and collaboration.
Indonesia is rich in natural and cultural resources, yet communities often face challenges linked to sustainability, livelihoods, and equity. Social enterprises, businesses that create both profit and positive impact, are uniquely positioned to respond. Through I-SEA, they gain tailored mentorship, strategic advice, access to networks, and financial support to scale their solutions and strengthen community well-being.
Åsa Skogström Feldt, Managing Director of Social Entrepreneurship B.V., expressed, "We're proud to continue our partnership with Instellar Impact and together welcome the third I-SEA cohort. Social entrepreneurs play a crucial role in addressing today's challenges with solutions that create a better everyday life for people from vulnerable and marginalised groups. We look forward to supporting and learning from these changemakers as they scale their impact."
Year-long support to scale impact
The 2025 cohort officially began with a three-day boot camp in Jakarta from 24–26 September. Hosted by Instellar and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, the gathering provided participants with an opportunity to connect, reflect on their business goals, and prepare for the year ahead. IKEA co-workers also joined, beginning a year of mentorship and guidance, where each social enterprise is matched with an IKEA co-worker to support their journey.
"What stood out the most in the I-SEA programme were the thought partner sessions and the leadership training. Our IKEA thought partner went the extra mile and pushed us beyond limits, which helped us a lot as a business," Dien Wong, Co-Founder & CTO of Pasar MIKRO, who participated in I-SEA cohort two.
Meet the changemakers
This year's programme welcomes not only social entrepreneurs but also traditional enterprises transitioning towards socially responsible practices. The ten enterprises span diverse industries, yet share a commitment to inclusion, sustainability, and innovation.
Sustainable agriculture & livelihoods
Circular economy & waste innovation
Cultural heritage & community empowerment
- Al-Anbiyaa' blends tradition and innovation to create artisan-produced sarongs, sustaining local craftsmanship.
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HANDEP empowers Dayak communities, especially women, through sustainable rattan handicrafts.
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Rumah Tenun Magelang preserves weaving traditions, creating sustainable jobs and eco-friendly textiles.
- Ubud Raw Chocolate & Cacao partners with farmers to produce premium cocoa, resulting in minimally processed, fair-trade chocolate.
Romy Cahyadi, CEO of Instellar Impact, said, "We are delighted to welcome ten more social entrepreneurs to I-SEA cohort 3. We have successfully identified changemakers with brilliant and visionary ideas to solve various problems in their communities. Through the I-SEA program, we hope to continue supporting these changemakers' journeys to strengthen their businesses while simultaneously expanding their social impact to more people, especially by improving the well-being of their beneficiaries."
Charlie Landale, Managing Director of IKEA Indonesia, added, "Through this partnership with Instellar under the I-SEA programme, we are not only strengthening the capacity of local social enterprises but also building a more inclusive and sustainable ecosystem. By offering tailored mentorship, access to networks, and resources, we aim to amplify the impact of these changemakers so that together we can foster equitable growth across communities that have long been underserved.”
Read more about the participating social enterprises.